December 05

Events - Transportation & Infrastructure

1958day.year

Subscriber Trunk Dialling (STD) is inaugurated in the United Kingdom by Queen Elizabeth II when she speaks to the Lord Provost in a call from Bristol to Edinburgh.

Queen Elizabeth II inaugurates Subscriber Trunk Dialling in the UK, allowing public direct dial long-distance calls in 1958.
On December 5, 1958, Queen Elizabeth II makes the first Subscriber Trunk Dialling call from Bristol to Edinburgh. This marks the official launch of automated long-distance telephone dialing across the United Kingdom. Previously, trunk calls required operator assistance, making the process slower and more labor-intensive. Subscriber Trunk Dialling revolutionizes telecommunications, reducing connection times and expanding network capacity. The innovation sets a global standard for automated dialing systems and paves the way for modern telecommunications.
1958 Subscriber Trunk Dialling (STD) Elizabeth II Lord Provost Bristol Edinburgh
1958day.year

The Preston By-pass, the UK's first stretch of motorway, opens to traffic for the first time. (It is now part of the M6 and M55 motorways.)

The Preston By-pass opens as the United Kingdom’s first motorway in 1958, pioneering modern road travel.
In December 1958, the Preston By-pass opens to traffic, marking the UK’s first stretch of motorway. Designed to ease congestion on the West Coast Main Line, it connects Broughton and Kirkham near Preston. Engineered with dual carriageways and grade-separated junctions, it sets design standards for future motorways. Today, the original by-pass forms part of the M6 and M55, serving as a vital arterial route in Northern England. Its success catalyzes the expansion of Britain’s motorway network, transforming road transport.
Preston By-pass motorway M6 M55